The Historical Handbook To Scotland

CASTLES
TOWNS
ABBEYS
VILLAGES
INVASIONS
CATHEDRALS
PALACES
BATTLES
WHISKY
CITIES
CHURCHES
REBELLIONS
GOLF CLUBS
STATELY HOMES

With more than 900 entries in alphabetical order, The Historical Handbook To Scotland provides a factual overview of the country's historical landscape from the Roman occupation to the present day. Integrated among its largest cities and smallest villages, that number more than 260 locations, are some 500 historical buildings. These range from the most strategically defended castles to the more venerable ruined abbeys that stand as testaments to the struggles and strife of the nation, during which many of the structures were designed and doctrines upheld. Between these are the 90 battles and periods of conflict. The comparatively modern history of more than 100 distilleries and golf clubs serves to reflect the industrialisation and urbanisation of 19th and 20th century Scotland, and like most of the other entries, start with the subject name, region, location and earliest history, eventually ending with a modern day summary that the reader can experience first-hand.

game after playing on the various neighbouring courses. So in 1878 it was with this in mind that Dr John Highet, Medical Practitioner, convened a meeting of 24 guests at the Portland Arms Hotel with a view to establishing a club. Following its successful outcome and prior to the inaugural meeting, Captain James Dickie had secured some land between Craigend burn and Gyaws burn on the Fullerton Estate owned by the Duke of Portland. Under the guidance of Charles Hunter, Custodian of Prestwick Links, the land was cleared and the course of 5 holes laid out by 1879, but with additions made at different stages, the course had taken the form of 18 holes by 1888. Two years before, a new clubhouse replaced the old wooden hut. In the early days playing was encumbered by sand blowing in from the sea, by farmers with carts full of sea ware from the beach, and bullocks roaming free. Regretfully after these issues were settled, mainly due to the pragmatism of the Duke's factor, course congestion returned once more when local members claiming an ancient right to play on the land refused to desist. With this in mind and an increasing number of lady members, (who had formed a club in 1882) more land was leased from the Duke for the construction of the Portland Course, or Relief Course, which was opened in 1895. Subsequent to this was the ladies' course which was laid out in 1896 on the east side of Crosbie Road. In 1904 Miss Lottie Dod won the first ladies major championship to be held at Troon, while the club's first male professional was George Strath followed by Willie Fernie. The land was still leased before the Great War (1914-18) when it took the form of the course we see today after work by W. Fernie in 1909 including the famous postage stamp at the 8th hole. After the war moves were afoot to purchase the courses from the Duke, so in 1923 with the sale made, James Braid was recruited to make further changes that included bunkers on the left hand side of the green. Now firmly established as premier golf course which by 1938 had hosted two major ladies championships, 1904, 1925; an Open Championship, 1923; and an Amateur Championship in 1938, Troon's development was consistent apart from the unsettled periods during both World Wars when activity was suspended. But throughout the 1950's and 60's the course was the scene of two Open Championships won by Bobby Locke of South Africa, 1950 and Arnold Palmer of USA, 1962. One ladies' championship was won by Moira Paterson, 1952; and two amateur championships, 1956, were won by John Beharrel youngest winner of such and Michael Bonallack, 1968. The course was extended in 1962 to 7,045 yards as was the clubhouse in 1971 with the new Ailsa lounge and to date both have witnessed over seven Open Championships.

SAINT ANDREWS CASTLE
FIFE
It stands on a rocky headland NE of the town facing the North Sea and was the site of a fortification from a very early period. The present castle was started by Bishop Roger as an Episcopal residence between 1188 and 1202. While growing along with the town, which was at the centre of the affairs of church and state, in 1332 it was taken and strengthened by the Scottish Barons led by Edward Balliol, then retaken by Sir Andrew Moray for David II and dismantled, but was reconstructed by Bishop Trail (1385-1401) who died here. The castle then started to develop into a built-up courtyard structure with enclosing walls, adjoining towers surrounded by a moat on its south front and west side to the sea. In 1452, James II recorded the birth of his first-born son in the chief mansion in the blessed City of St Andrews. During a dispute about the succeeding bishop, the Douglases, led by Bishop Gavin Douglas, seized it 1509-13 until they were driven out by Prior James Hepburn ending in the former being reconciled with Archbishop James Beaton (1522-39) and the Earl of Lennox. In the ensuing religious strife of the 16th century, additions were made by Archbishop David Beaton, (1543-46) who was murdered here by the Reformers in retaliation for the burning of George Wishart (martyr) outside the castle walls, but it was retaken and garrisoned by French troops, 1547 to prevent the arrival of an English force sent by Henry VIII. This resulted in the Reformer John Knox being sent to the galleys in France. Between 1550 and 1571 rebuilding work was carried out by Archbishop Hamilton, adding the south west section with gateway in an early Renaissance style which afforded refuge to James VI after the Ruthven Raid in 1583. Although owned by the Earl of Dunbar in 1606 and restored to the Archbishopric in 1612, after which some minor additions were made, its last function was as a prison after the battle of Philiphaugh in 1645, when Montrose's supporters James Spottiswood and Gordon of Haddo were interned here before being executed. In the same year the Town Council ordered that its 'sleatts timmers' be used for the town pier.